Can Ya' Dig It?

This One is for Dads

Many of you know that my father died a few weeks back. I can't brag about him enough. He was my hero. One of the short little conversations that we had in the last few days included me saying this: Dad, thanks for loving me so well that it made it easy to understand how my Heavenly Father loves me.

I can't think of a higher purpose in being a dad.

As I reflect on what it is about my dad that paved that way, I am reminded of the fact that it was never grand things - but rather consistent, daily things that assured me that I was loved and secure in his love. I never had to prove anything to him, but He always encouraged me to do my best. He forgave me when I messed up. He applauded me when I did well. He talked to others about me in ways that I knew that he loved me. He sat with me when I was sick. He biked with me when I was healthy. He taught me how to work by working beside me. He modeled to me how to make self sacrifices for those he loved and those he didn't even know.

Dad's, let your kids look into your eyes and see the kind of love that you have for them be a reflection of the love their heavenly Father has for them.

Turn Toys to Life

We had lots of kids bring in lots of toys and lots of people buy lots of toys so we made lots of money ($350). I am so proud of our kids who had the great idea to share from their closets, their time and their hearts to raise money to drill a well through World Vision for kids they don't even know!!

Spoiled Children

Below is part of the message I shared on Wednesday, March 10 at Lenten Service:
Some of you might remember when the group was here from Tanzania last fall. I had the privilege of bringing the five of them to visit the schools in Elk River so they would have a glimpse of how our American schools operate. We were in some of your classrooms.
Pastor Seth was the only one who spoke English, so when things were explained to them, he would translate and often the five of them would start talking to one another. I obviously had no idea what they were saying, but kept wondering what they were thinking. When we were walking back to church, I asked him what their impressions were. He explained that the way that we cared for our children was amazing, that even those with special needs were allowed to come to school and be helped to learn. He told me that they don’t do that in his country. He said, I am sorry to tell you that we spoil our children.
This obviously caused some confusion for me. I asked him what he meant by spoil. He tried to explain to me that spoiling is when you allow something like fruit to rot – Yes – I told him - I understand what the word spoil means – but how do you spoil your children? As a society we cast them aside and don’t help them to reach their full potential because there are so many other needs and not enough resources.

Then I had to explain to him that we use the word spoil in a completely different way. When we say that we spoil children here – we mean that we love them so much that sometimes we let them have anything they want or choose to show our love for them by using material things and as a result we instill in them a warped view of themselves as they confuse their worth with how much stuff they have– sometimes our children – (Me included) aren’t reaching their full potential either.

We smiled as we finally had succeeded in understanding each other, but were very troubled by the great chasm of difference between his broken country and my broken country – of our broken world – of our own personal brokenness.